Early Learning Facilities Program
The Department of Commerce manages funding awarded through direct appropriation and competitive processes that establish new capacity for early learning providers. The Early Learning Facilities (ELF) program supports Washington’s commitment of developing additional high quality early learning opportunities for children from low-income households. Commerce’s partners in the program are the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Washington Community Reinvestment Association, Enterprise Community Partners, Craft 3 and the Early Learning Facilities Advisory Board.
Our Program
The Early Learning Facilities (ELF) program aims to help Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) contractors and Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) providers to expand, remodel, purchase, or construct early learning facilities and classrooms necessary to support early learning opportunities for children from low-income households.
Commerce’s ELF program funding opportunities consists of four parts:
- Competitive grants to eligible organizations
- Competitive grants to K-12 school districts
- Direct appropriations from the Legislature
- A grant and loan program operated by Washington Community Reinvestment Association, Enterprise Community Partners, and Craft3.
Funding Availability Information
ELF funding is open to nonprofits, public entities, K-12 schools and districts, tribes and for-profit businesses. The type of eligible applicant depends on the requirements of the current funding round being released as indicated below. Nonprofit and for-profit business applicants must be registered in the State of Washington. All applicants must be able to meet all applicable licensing and certification requirements under specific RCWs and WACs pertaining to the early learning and childcare services proposed in the facilities to which the funding will be applied.
Grants made by the ELF program are for reimbursement of capital projects only. Capital costs may include acquisition, design, engineering, third-party construction management, and construction and capitalized equipment costs associated with building early learning facilities. If funding is provided for the acquisition of a building or land, the acquisition must have the resulting outcome of a facility that increases early learning opportunities for children from low-income households.
2023-2025 Eligible Organizations Competitive Grant
Early Learning Facilities Grant Program Virtual Workshops
- English
- Spanish
- Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
- English – Coming Soon
- Spanish – Coming Soon
Coming Soon:
- Program Guidelines
- Notice of Funding Opportunity (to include Pre-Application and General Application Questions)
- Grantee Handbook
The next funding round of the Eligible Organizations Competitive Grant is anticipated to be released in August 2023.
Eligible Organizations Funding Round Planning Timeline (PDF).
Please watch this space for information on the next round next year.
You may sign-up for email updates at the bottom of this page to be notified of program releases.
Click here for the press release with a list of the 2021-2023 Eligible Organization awardees.
Public School District Funding Round
The K-12 School District Funding Round closed at 4:00 PM on July 20, 2022.
Applications will be reviewed and scored, with recommendations for funding sent to the Legislature.
Funding decisions will be made when the next Capital Budget is approved, and applicants will be notified of funding decisions at that time.
2022 Federal Funding - Child Care Minor Renovations Grant
Technical Assistance Available for Awardees
(English) The Imagine Institute is available to provide individual technical support in the awardee’s preferred language. Technical Assistants can support you in meeting pre-contracting requirements, contract execution, and reimbursement processes in compliance with the Early Learning Facilities Program Guidelines for the Child Care Minor Renovation Grant. Please contact The Imagine Institute at 206-492-5249 or email CCSG@imaginewa.org
(Somali) Machadka qiyaas ayaa diyaar u ah inuu bixiyo taageero farsamo shakhsi ahaaneed oo ku saabsan luqadda qofkii abaalmarinta loo doorto. Kaaliyeyaasha Farsamo waxay kugu taageeri karaan inaad buuxiso shuruudaha qandaraaska hore si waafaqsan Tilmaamaha Barnaamijka Xarumaha Waxbarashada Hore ee Deeqda Dib-u-cusbooneysiinta Carruurta. Fadlan la xiriir Machadka Imagine ee 206-492-5249 ama email CCSG@imaginewa.org
(Spanish) El Imagine Institute está disponible para proporcionar soporte técnico individual en el idioma preferido de los ganadores. Los asistentes técnicos pueden ayudarlo a cumplir con los requisitos de pre-contratación, ejecución del contrato, y el proceso de reembolso, en conformidad con las pautas del programa de centros de aprendizaje temprano para la subvención de renovación de menores de cuidado infantil. Póngase en contacto con The Imagine Institute al 206-492-5249 o envíe un correo electrónico a CCSG@imaginewa.org
Minor Renovations Grant Funding Map
There were 946 applications submitted, requesting a total of $169.4 million, with only $27.3 million to award that was distributed among 253 awardees.
The Child Care Minor Renovations program is a distinct program funded in the 2022 supplemental budget and separate from the core Early Learning Facilities program.
Debriefing webinars were held on November 10, 2022. When the recordings are available, they will be posted here:
- English Recording – 11:00 AM
- English Presentation Slides
- Somali Recording – 5:00 PM
- Somali Presentation Slides
- Spanish Recording – 6:00 PM
- Spanish Presentation Slides
Please refer to the Program Guidelines below for program details and eligible costs:
2021-2023 Eligible Organizations Competitive Grant
The next funding round of the Eligible Organizations Competitive Grant is anticipated to be released in the fall of 2023.
Eligible Organizations Funding Round Planning Timeline (PDF).
Please watch this space for information on the next round next year.
Please sign-up for email updates at the bottom of this page to be notified of program releases.
Click here for the press release with a list of the 2021-2023 Eligible Organization awardees.
2021-2023 Early Learning Facilities Funding
| Funding Category | Total Appropriation | Number of Projects Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| K-12 School Districts | $4,719,000 | 9 |
| Direct Appropriation | $7,952,000 | 9 |
| Eligible Organizations | $47,048,000 | 69 |
| Minor Renovations | $28,522,000 | TBD |
| Total | $88,241,000 | 87 |
CDFI
Commerce has selected three CDFI partners, Washington Community Reinvestment Association, Enterprise Community Partners, and Craft 3 to run our loan program. See the WELL Fund Flyer for more information or go to the Washington Early Learning Loan Fund website.
Related Law
RCW 43.31.565 through RCW 43.31.583
Link to 2021-23 Program Legislation:
SHB 1080, Sections 1057 and 1083 ESHB 1370
Link to 2019-21 Program Legislation:
SHB 1102, Section 1037
Links to 2017-19 Program Legislation:
HB 1777
ESSB 6095, Section 1005
Program Guidelines
Funding Round Awardees
Questions?
For all program related questions, please email: earlylearningfacilities@commerce.wa.gov
Program Staff
Department of Commerce
Amy Gutierrez
Program Manager – State Appropriation
amy.gutierrez@commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 360-280-0010
Juan Aguilar
Program Manager – Federal Appropriation
juan.aguilar@commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 360-972-6071
Katrina Matson
Program Manager – State Appropriation
katrina.matson@commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 360-742-9099
Ali Tope
Program Manager – State Appropriation
ali.tope@commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 360-485-3921
Kristin Ramos
Community Projects Supervisor
kristin.ramos@commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 360-515-6504
Megan LaPalm MA, EdS
Community Programs Manager
Early Learning Facilities/ Behavioral Health Facilities
megan.lapalm@commerce.wa.gov
564-669-1141
Addeline Craig
Managing Director, Community Capital Facilities
addeline.craig@commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 360-688-0041
Technical Assistance
Department of Children, Youth, and Families
Jody Hitchings
Pre-Licensing Unit Supervisor
jody.hitchings@dcyf.wa.gov
Phone: 360-271-4214
Grace Ssebugwawo
Community Funded ECEAP/Early Learning Facilities Specialist
Grace.Ssebugwawo@dcyf.wa.gov
Phone: 360-701-7197
Kelcy Shaffer
ECEAP Operations Manager
Kelcy.Shaffer@dcyf.wa.gov
Phone: 360-407-3663
DCYF Child Care / Early Learning Providers Technical Assistance
DCYF Early Learning & Child Care Offices
Enterprise Community Partners
Juanita Salinas-Aguila
Program Director Pacific Northwest
jsalinasaguila@enterprisecommunity.org
Phone: 206-223-4518
ChildCare Aware Washington
Phone: 253-383-1735
Listings for “Washington State Regional Coalitions for Early Learning”